Why Do Some People Always Get Bitten By Mosquitoes While Others Don’t?

Have you ever felt like you’re being specifically targeted by mosquitoes when you end up with itchy welts all over your body, while your friends seem like they’re not even aware of the pesky biters’ existence?

Well, it’s not your imagination. Research has proven that mosquitoes DO have preferences when it comes to picking out the people they want to suck blood from.

In a feature by WebMD, Jerry Butler, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Florida posited that “one in 10 people are highly attractive to mosquitoes”.

Here’s the thing – mosquitoes don’t suck blood for food. In fact, only female mosquitoes bite people because they need proteins from human blood to develop fertile eggs and create more mosquito babies.

85 percent of our likelihood to get bitten by mosquitoes is due to genetics.

Some blood types are indeed sweeter than others, metaphorically speaking. A study found that people with Type O blood are 83% more likely to get bitten. People with Type A blood are least likely to become mosquito prey, while those with Type B blood are kind of in the middle.

2. You have a large body size

This has to do with your metabolic rate, or the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released from your body as it burns energy. Mosquitoes use CO2 as their primary means of identifying targets and can actually sense CO2 from up to 50 metres away!

Larger people tend to exhale more and give off more carbon dioxide, which is why mosquitoes prefer to go for adults over children. Men are also more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes compared to women, as well as obese or overweight peopledue to their larger body size and relative heat

3. You’re pregnant

According to a study done in Africa, pregnant women are twice as likely to attract mosquitoes compared to their non-pregnant peers because they give off a greater amount of CO2. In fact, a 2002 study found that women in the later stages of pregnancy exhale 21% more CO2 than non-pregnant women, making them even more noticeable to the pests.

Mosquitoes are attracted to lactic acid, a compound produced by the body after working up a sweat, hence you’re more likely to get bitten by mosquitoes if you’ve just gone out for a run or finished a workout at the gym.

Besides that, the body also experiences a heat increase because of a raise in your body’s metabolic rate after strenuous activity or vigorous exercise. Warmth becomes more attractive to mosquitoes as they approach a potential victim.

Apart from smell, mosquitoes also rely on sight to spot their prey. Red makes you a prime target, as well as dark colours such as black and blue.

Dr. Jonathan Day, a medical entomologist and mosquito expert at the University of Florida, explained, “Mosquitoes have problems flying in even a slight wind, and so they keep close to the ground. Down there, **they spot hosts by comparing your silhouette to the horizon. Dark colours stand out, while light shades blend in.”

7. Certain elements of your body chemistry are actually calling out to the mosquitoes

People who produce excess amount of certain acids (e.g. lactic acid, uric acid) and/or have higher concentrations of steroids and cholesterol on their skin surface tend to attract mosquitoes. This does not necessarily mean that mosquitoes prey on those with high cholesterol. Rather, these people naturally metabolise and process cholesterol faster than others, the byproducts of which remain on the skin’s surface.

On the other hand, a study done by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that people who are bitten less frequently seem to “smell differently to mosquitoes”, almost as if they produce a natural repellent. Ugh, lucky.

And if you haven’t already please help us reach 3 million Facebook fans by following us HERE

My Name is Kasim Khan and I am the founder of Educate Inspire Change. I have just returned from a 1 week stay at the world’s first medically licensed plant medicine retreat, it’s called Rythmia and is in the beautiful country of Costa Rica. During this week I had the most profound and transformational experience of my life and it’s not only me . . .over 95% of people who embark on this journey at Rythmia reports that they too had a life changing miracle. This magical place had such a profound effect on me that I am now dedicating my time to sharing this healing opportunity of a lifetime with you all.

About The Author

Founder and Editor of EducateInspireChange.
I created EducateInspireChange (EiC) in 2012 to help keep people informed , to encourage people to expand their consciousness and to inspire people to reach for their dreams. I believe that to create real positive change in this world we need to first change ourselves, this might mean living more sustainably, eating more healthy, understanding yourself better…ultimately anything that improves your state of mind as this will help to make the world a better place.

Search

Please support us

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT

Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.